I thought I’d share with you how the principles found in Stephen Covey’s book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” are the same principles that your City leaders use to make Goodyear a great place to live:

1. Be Proactive. In an economic downturn, City leadership budgeted conservatively and identified savings to maintain service levels at a time when other cities are cutting back on services.

2. Begin with the End in Mind. Our shared vision as an All-America City continues to deliver excellent services and good ideas for the public’s benefit: universities, spring training baseball, and award-winning recycling programs.

Councilmember Joanne Osborne

3. Put First Things First. We prioritize the needs of residents by creating taxpayer value and attracting economic growth such as jobs at Amazon.com, Macy’s and Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

4. Think Win/Win. The young people of Goodyear need a voice, so the Youth Commission was established to gain their input and add a fresh perspective to government. We all win.

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood. Goodyear is a city that seeks citizen involvement. From the Planning and Zoning Commission to the Ethics Committee, Goodyear knows the value our residents bring.

6. Synergize. We partner and collaborate for success. The Education Summit brought together our six school districts and City staff to create a plan for improving outcomes for students; and our Business Workshops will help our local business community stay competitive. See update on Business Workshop speakers on this page.

7. Sharpen the Saw. We balance City business with a family-friendly environment. An interim library is in the works and our recreation programming and family events are first-rate.

Joanne Osborn